Dispensing device



c. STERN 2,340,625

DISPENSING DEVICE Feb. 1, 1944.

Filed May 28, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 INVENTOR.

2W H (mews srm/v Patented Feb. 1, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING DEVICE Charles Stern, Jersey City, N. J.

Application May 28, 1942, Serial No. 444,853

8 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing devices. It is particularly directed to devices for dispensing grease and the like material.

One object of this invention is to provide a pump of the character described, including a tank, said pump being so constructed that no excessive pressures will be built up within said tank during the pumping operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pump of the character described, comprising a tank to contain the grease to be pumped, and a piston within the tank adapted to be moved by a screw, the piston and screw being attached to the head of the tank, and said head together wih the screw and pison being removable as a unit from the tank, whereby to facilitate quick refilling of the tank with grease.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pump of the character described, provided with improved means to permit the pump to be carried by two men, and also provided with means whereby the pump may be actuated manually by either one or two persons.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide in a pump of the character described, means to disconnect the pump actuating means when the tank is substantially empty.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a pump of the character described, comprising a tank having a head at one end and quickly detachable means to fix the head to the tank, whereby the head may be quickly removed so as to permit quick refilling of the tank.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a pump comprising a tank, a. removable head at one end of the tank, an outlet at the other end of the tank, a piston within said tank, a gear pump on said head having its inlet end connected to the outlet end of the tank, means to simultaneously move the piston downwardly in the tank and operate the gear pump, said head, piston and gear pump being detachable from the tank and movable as a unit off the tank, whereby to entirely uncover the tank to facilitate refilling thereof, and also to permit said head, piston and gear pump to be quickly mounted on another tank which has been refilled with grease.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a strong, durable and rugged tank of the character described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate and assemble, and yet practical and efficient to a high degree in use. I H p I Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrativ embodiments of this invention,

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a pump embodying the invention; with parts broken away and in cross-section;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the tank shown in Fig. 1;

Fig, 3 is a side elevational view of the gear pump with parts broken away and in cross-section;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig.- 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. l;

Fig, 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. l; g

. Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the piston safety device; and

Fig. 8 is a partial side elevational view'of the dispensing device illustrating one of the handles for carrying the same.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, l0 designates a dispensing device embodying the invention- The same comprises a tank I I connected by pipe [2 to a gear pump I3. The tank ll comprises an annular bottom member l4 formed with an annular groove [5 in its upper surface to receive the lower edge of a cylinder Hi. The bottom member I4 is formed with a cored passage l1 leading to a radial nipple l8 at one side. The cored passage [1 xtends to the center of the upper surface of member 84 and hence communicates with the interior of the tank.- Said member I4 is furthermore formedwith a plurality of equiangularly spaced radial ears 19, formed with vertical through bolt openings I9a. Member I4 is shown in the drawings to be formed with six ears J9, although any suitable number may be provided.

, Surrounding the cylinder l6, below its upper end, is an annular ring 20. The ring 20 may be formed of two similar, symmetricalhalf rings 21, having meeting apertured ears 22, -attachedtogether by bolts 23. 1 I i Ring 20 is formed witha plurality of equiangularly spaced projections or ears '30, vertically aligned with the ears I9 and likewise formed with vertical bolt openings 3 I. Extending through the openings l9a and 3| are vertical tie rods or bolts 33. At the lower ends of rods 33 are nuts 33a contacting the underside of ears Is. At the upper end of said rods are nuts 3Ia on opposite sides of ears 38. Thus rods 33 firmly interconnect the ring 28 with the bottom member I4.

Ring 20 is furthermore formed with a plurality of equiangularly spaced pairs of radial ears 35 formed with horizontal through openings 35a carrying transverse pivot pins 36. In the drawings, there is shown four pairs of ears 35, although any suitable number of such pairs of ears may be employed. Pivoted to each pivot pin 36 isa bolt 31 having an eye portion 37a, to receive the pivot, pin. The bolts 37a are for the purpose of clamp- Means is provided to disengage the worm 14 from the worm wheel 63 when the tank is nearly empty. To this end, the free end of member 10 is connected by a coil tension spring 71 to a pin I8 fixed to the plate 4!. The spring 71 tends to rotate member T in a clockwise direction looking at Fig. 2 of the drawings to disconnect worm 14 from the worm wheel 63.

Means is provided to hold member I0 in worm engaging or operative position. To this end, plate M is formed with a screw threaded opening 80. Screwed within said opening 80 is a tubular mem ber 8| having a central apertured bottom Wall 82.

"Extending through the aperture in the bottom ing to the top of the tank, a head 40 to be de-' scribed in detail hereinafter. Screwed to the bolts 31a are wing nuts 38 engaging said head, as shown in the drawings.

The head 40 comprises a top plate 4I formed with an annular groove 42 on the underside thereof, receiving the upper end of cylinder I6. Plate GI is formed with a plurality of radial notches 43 aligned with the bolts 31, and adapted toreceive said bolts when said bolts are swung upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In such position, the wing nuts 38 may be screwed down against the upper surface ofsaid plate to firmly clamp the head 40 to the ring. 20 and to the top of cylinder I6.

Plate 4| is formed with a central axial bearing opening 44 and journaled therein is an axial screw 45- extending downwardly into :the tank to substantially the lower end thereof. The: lower end. of the screw 45 is journalled in a cross'head 46 The outer ends of the cross head. 46 are attached to the plate M by vertical, parallel tie'rods .41 extending, through openings 48 in said top plate. Within the tank is a piston 55] having internal screw threads receiving the threads. of the axial screw 45. The tie rods or bolts 4'! pass through openings: 52 in the piston. Packing glands 53 may be provided for the openings-52m prevent leakage of greasethrough said openings. The piston 59 may be provided with. a leather or other flexible liner 5'! to contact the inner surface of the cylinder I6.

It will now be understood that rotationflof the screw 45 will cause verticalmovement of the piston. As the piston moves down, grease beneath the piston is pushed out through the passagev I7. Attached to screw 45 are collars 60 disposed on opposite sides of the plate 41 Said screw has an upwardly extending portion 6| formed at its upper end with a polygonal head 62 to receive a wrench for turning the screw, for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Mounted on portion 6 I of the screw is a worm wheel 63 for the purpose hereinafter appearing. r

Mounted ontop plate 4| and pivoted thereto about a vertical axis, as by screws 68, is a member I0 having a pair of spaced, parallel, upstanding ears H formed. with aligned bearings in which is journalled a horizontal shaft 12. Fixed on the shaft I2 and disposed between the upstanding ears 7| is a worm I4 adapted tomesh with the worm wheel 63. At the outer end of shaft i2. is a polygonal head 14a adapted 'to re-' ceive a .crankfor turning said shaft. Fixed to said plate M is a Z-shaped guidebracket l5 whichmay be attached to said plate byone of the bolts 41. The bracket15- has an'arm- I8, overlying a porticnof member 70; y l? wall 82 is a rod 83 having an enlarged head 84 at its upper end adapted to project above the head 40' to engage member H1 and hold the worm 14 in engagement with the worm wheel 63. interposed between the head 84 and the bottom wall 82 is a coil tension spring 85 to normally push the head 84, upwardly. A packing 86 may be incorporated into the bottom of the tubular member 8| to prevent leakage.

Screwed to the lower end of rod 83 is a vertical rod 90 passing through an opening 9| in the piston 50. A packing gland 92 may be provided to prevent leakage through. the opening 9|. At the bottom of rod 90 is a head 93 disposed somewhat above the cross head 46. When the piston reaches the head 93 it will pull down the rod 90 and hence the pin or head 84 to release member III to permit the spring 11 to pull said member into disengaging position. Thus, when. the grease in the tank is nearly all pumped out, the piston can no further be moved downwardly.

' Attached to the nipple I B'fis a pipe Iflil, said pipe being connected by an elbow IDI to the vertical pipe I2 disposed alongside the tank I21 The pipe I2. terminates below the upper end of the tank, as at I 53. Attached to the head 40 is a radial Z-shapedbracket I04 having an outwardly'extending'arm. Supported'on said arm I05 is thegear pump I3. Said gear pump I3 may be of usual construction and comprises a casing I06, Within which are rotatably mounted a pair of meshing gears Hi1 and I08. Attached to the bottom of the casing" I06 isa downwardly extending inlet pipe I98 aligned with thepipe I2.

The-lower end I09- of pipe I08 is adjacent the upper end Int of the pipe I2; The adjacent ends of the pipes I2" and IIIB'are interconnected by a quickly detachable leakproofcoupling sleeve H0; Thesleeve- I-Iil has extemal-screw threads III at its opposite ends, Screwed'to the screwthreaded portions 'H-I at'the opposite ends of the sleeve H 0 are sleeves H 2' having inwardly extending flanges H3 loosely receiving the pipes I2 or I08.

' Slidably mounted on the outer ends of sleeves HO'and disposed within the sleeves H'2iare rings 4- havinginw'ardly'extending flanges II5' contacting the innersurfaceof'the flanges H3. The sleeve H0 is formed at the opposite ends thereof conicalinner surfaces I'I'l fitted within which are rings H8' of rubber or other compressible material.

' It will now be understood that when the sleeves H2 are tightened the rings H8 will be pressed against thepipes f2 or I68- to make a leakproof joint. When the upper ring H2 is loosened; and the wing nuts 38 are also loosene-d'and the bolts 37' swung outwardly to disengage the head; said head together with the gear pump I3 and pipe I 68 maybe lifted off the tank; so that the tankwill present a complete large opening to facilitate f5 refilling the tank.

. It will be noted that when the head 40 is lifted oif the tank, the piston 59, screw 45, grease head 4B;all come out with the head, as a unit.

t In, the drawings, numeral IE8 designates the driving gear. The front and rear walls of the pump casing I66 are formedwithv bearing openings through which there extends a horizontal shaft I disposed on the axis of the shaft I2. At the outer end of shaft I2!) is a polygonal head I2I to receive a handle for rotating said shaft. Shaft I20 is connected to shaft I2 by a universal joint I25. Universal joint I is located directly above the pivot 68 for member it, so that member ID together with shaft 12 may be. swung about the axis of pivot 68. Any suitable rubber hose I26 may be connected to the exit end I21 of the gear pump I3.

The gear ratios of the gear pump relative to the piston-and its operating gears is such that the gear pump will pump out grease as fast as grease is pressed out of the tank by the piston. With such construction, no internal pressures should build up within the tank, thus preventing buckling or damage to the tank and permitting the tank to be made of lighter materials.

-When the worm M is disconnected from the worm wheel 53, a wrench or crank handle may be applied to the upper end 62 of the screw 45 so that said screw may be quickly rotated backwards to. bring the piston up to the top again. It will now be understood that the dispensing device may be operatedeither by one or two persons engaging either one or both of the ends I2I and M- of the shafts I28 and 72.

Means is provided to permit the tank to be carried easily by two persons. To this end, ring 20 is provided with diamertically opposed pairs of ears I lil. The ears I40 are disposed in a line at right angles to the shaft I2. Each pair of cars I40 carries a transverse horizontal pivot pin MI. Pivoted to each pin MI is an elongated handle I42. Handles Hi2 may drop by gravity to hang adjacent the tanks. The handles may be lifted or swung outwardly to horizontal position, in which position, said handles will engage the underside of head 40. Each handle may be engaged by two hands of a person, and thus, the whole pump may be readily carried by two persons.

Although the pump may have a variety of uses, one contemplated use is to pump grease into gas mains on opposite sides of a break in the main which might be caused by bombing or in any other way. For this purpose it is necessary that the pump may be quickly carried to various places where pumping of grease is necessary, and the pump may be readily carried by the handles I42.

The head and gear pump I3 may be quickly disconnected from the tank so as to permit the tank to be refilled with grease. Furthermore, reserve tanks full of grease may be provided and when a tank is empty, the head may be quickly removed therefrom and inserted into another tank full of grease.

Another advantage of the pump disclosed herein is that no pressures are built up within the tank so that definite amounts of grease may be pumped and the grease will not continue to ooze out of the pump after the pumping operation stops, by reason of pressures built up within the pump as in prior devices.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

- As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative'and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a dispensing device, a cylinder, a closure at one end of the cylinder, said cylinder having an outlet at its closed end, a head on the opposite end of said cylinder, means to detachably clamp the head to the cylinder, an axial screw journalled on said head and extending within said cylinder, axially thereof, a piston within said cylinder having threaded engagement with said screw, means on said head engaging said piston to prevent the piston from rotating relative to said cylinder, a pump on said head and con nected to said outlet end of said tank, said head, pump, piston, screw and preventing means'being removable as a unit from said cylinder upon disconnecting said head from said cylinder.

2. A dispensing device comprising a tank closed at one end and having an outlet at said end, a pipe communicating with said outlet, a head mounted on the opposite end of said tank, an axial screw journalled on .said head extending into said tank, means to removably attach said head to said tank, a gear pumpmounted on said head, a coupling interconnecting said pipe with the inlet end ofsaid gear pump, and a piston within the tank having threaded engagement with said screw, said head and gear pump being removable from said tank and pipe upon disconnecting said head from said tank and loosening said coupling.

3. A dispensing device comprising a tank closed at one end and having an outlet at said end, a pipe communicating with said outlet, a head mounted on the opposite end of said tank, an axial screw journalled on said head extending into said tank, means to removably attach said head to said tank, a pump mounted on said head, a coupling interconnecting said pipe with the inlet end of said pump, a piston within the tank having threaded engagement with said screw, means to prevent rotation of the piston relative to said tank, said head and pump being removable from said tank and pipe upon disconnecting said head from said tank and loosening said coupling, and means to simultaneously operate said pump and rotate said screw.

4. A dispensing device comprising a cylinder, a bottom wall at the lower end of said cylinder having an outlet, a head on the upper end of said cylinder, an axial screw journalled on said head and extending into said cylinder, a piston having threaded engagement with said screw, means to prevent rotation of said piston within said cylinder, a member mounted on said head and pivoted thereto about an axis parallel to the axis of said cylinder, a shaft journalled on said member, a worm wheel on said screw and above said head, a worm on said shaft adapted to mesh with said worm wheel, a gear pump mounted on said head, means to connect said outlet with the inlet end of said gear pump, a shaft fixed to one of the gears of the gear pump, and a universal joint interconnecting said shafts, said universal joint being located in alignment with the pivot for said member, whereby said member and first shaft may be pivoted relative to the-head and second'shaft;

5. A dispensing device comprisinga cylinder, at bottom wall at the lower end of saidcylinder having an outlet, a head on theupper end of said cylinder, an axialscrew journalled' on said head and extending into said cylinder, a piston having threaded engagement with said screw, means to prevent rotation of said piston within saitl cylinder, a member mounted on said head andlpiwcted thereto about'an-axis parallel to the axis of saidcylinder; a shaft journalled on said member, a worm Wheel on said screw and above said head, a worm onsaid shaft adapted to mesh with said wormwheel, a gear pump mounted on said head, means to connect said outlet with the: inlet end of said gear pump, a shaft fixed to one of the gears of the gear pump, almi-versal' joint interconnecting said shafts, said universal jointbeing located in alignment with the pivot for said member, whereby said memher and first shaft may be pivoted relative to the: head and second shaft, and means on said shafts to be engaged by cranks whereby said shafts. may be rotated by the use of two cranks.

6. A dispensing device comprising a cylinder, a bottom wall at the lower end of said cylinder havingan outlet, at head on the upper end of said. cylinder, an axial screw journalled on said head and extending. into said cylinder, a piston. having threaded engagementwith said screw, means toprevent rotation of said piston Within said cylinder, a member mounted on said head and pivoted thereto-about an axis parallel to the axis or said cylinder, ashaft journalled on said. member, a worm wheel on said screw and above said head, a worm onsaid shaft adapted to. mesh with said wormwheel, a gear pump mounted-onsaid head, means to connect said outlet: with the inlet end of said gear pump, a shaft fixed to one of the gears of the gear pump; auniversal' joint interconnecting said shafts,-said universal joint being located in alignment with th'epivot for said member, whereby said member' and first shaft may be pivoted relative to: the head and second shaft, means on said shaftsto be engaged, by cranks whereby said shafts-may be rotated by the use of two: cranks, and a pair of diametrically opposed handles on said tank disposedi'at rightv angles to said shafts.

7:. A dispensing dei ice comprising a tank having an outlet end at one end, a head at the. opposite. end of. the tank, a gear pump on said head having its inlet end connected to the outlet end of the tank, a piston within the tank, and means on said head tomove said piston longitudinally within said tank toward the outlet end of the tank to press material in the tank out through said outlet, and means to operate the gear pump to pump material passing through said outlet.

8. A. dispensing device comprising a tank having. an outlet end at one end, a head at the opposite end or the tank, a gear pump on said head having its inlet end connected to the outlet end of the tank, a piston within the tank, and means on said head to move said piston longitudinally within said tank toward the outlet end of the 30 tank to press material in the tank out through said outlet, and means to operate the gear pump to pump material passing through said outlet, said head, piston, means and gear pump being removable from said tank as a unit.

CHARLES STERN. 

